Menlo’s varsity boys water polo team capped off a successful season with a 21-9 record, climbing to No. 13 nationally, according to MaxPreps, while battling many of the top teams in the country. 

Early in the season, the Knights placed third in the annual Roche Tournament at Menlo and finished second in the S&R Cup in Orange County.

“We played the top teams in the United States,” head coach Jack Bowen said. “By the last third of the season [we were] playing like a top 20 team in the country.”​

In the CCS Open Division championship, the Knights fell to Sacred Heart Prep 16-11, marking their third loss to the Gators this year. The team saw its season end in the first round of the NorCal Division I playoffs, losing to De La Salle High School 15-11.  

Bowen was proud of the team’s resilience in the postseason. “The comeback wins throughout the playoffs were the most impressive snapshot of this team’s character,” he said. 

Senior captain and goalie Connor Burks said the team started to catch its stride when its underclassmen settled in. “Once our freshmen started becoming more comfortable with things, […] that was very pivotal for us,” he said. 

Burks added that the team’s many injuries opened doors for new contributors. “Some injuries allowed some of our players, who didn’t really get as much playing time, to really step up, and I think that was great to see,”​ he said.​

Burks said the Knights’ driven mindset helped them have such an impressive season. “I think our team culture has been very positive and definitely familial with our brotherly relationships among teammates,” he said.